Senior Will Gifford struck out nine batters in six innings against Walsh April 24.
Courtesy | Isabella Sheehan
The Hillsdale baseball team split both doubleheaders against the Walsh University Cavaliers April 23-24. The Chargers also lost a game against the Wayne State University Warriors April 25.
The team is currently sixth in conference standings and, after 41 games, the Chargers now have a conference record of 14-10.
“We played alright this weekend,” senior outfielder Lewis Beals said. “We had an opportunity to win the last game, and should have, but we couldn’t capitalize on some big opportunities. Overall, however, splitting the weekend, going two and two, was not the worst outcome at all.”
In the first game on Sunday, the Chargers won 10-6 after the Cavaliers brought home five runs in the first inning. The Chargers trailed until pulling ahead in the bottom of the eighth, closing out the inning with a three-run home run.
The Chargers lost the second game of the day 4-2. The Cavaliers again plated three runs in the first inning, and even with a home run from Aidan Brewer in the bottom of the third inning, the Chargers were unable to pull ahead, leaving nine runners on base.
“This weekend I would say was pretty positive,” senior shortstop Aidan Brewer said.
“They were a solid team and are right above us in the standings, so earning a split was pretty good. We had two comeback wins and the two losses came down to the wire, so it was a very competitive weekend.”
The second doubleheader on Monday followed a similar pattern. Walsh plated eight runs in the third inning, creating a 9-3 deficit. The fifth inning is where the Chargers took a 10-9 lead, and junior closing pitcher Zane Barnhart prevented any future runs for the Cavaliers.
The second Monday game was a 5-4 loss for the Chargers with Walsh pulling ahead in the top of the tenth inning after a ground ball bounced over the second baseman’s head, securing the Cavaliers’ win.
“I think we are very close to breaking out as a team and going on a run,” head coach Tom Vessella said. “The offense is coming alive at the right time, our defense is solid, and the pitching staff is keeping the games close.”
Following the four games against Walsh, the Chargers lost 11-10 in a game to Wayne State University April 25.
“We have eight more games left in conference play and a lot can happen,” Vessella said. “We are all excited to see how it shakes out.”
The Chargers will play Malone University this weekend, April 29-30, in a four-game series. They will also play four games against Ashland University May 5.
“We feel really good going into this weekend against Malone,” Beals said. “It’s a big conference weekend and we could clinch a spot in the tournament. If we can clinch, the rest of the year will be about jockeying for better seeding and getting tuned up for Prasco Park.”
